Why I Should Hire a Florida LicensedAttorney VS A Public Adjuster?

Before writing my opinion, I researched the Net to see what other people were saying, and I was amazed at the false claims many public Adjusters were declaring on their web sites to entice you to sign up with them. There is a difference between hiring an Attorney over a pubic adjuster in the State of Florida.

The strongest argument that I have and time has shown that an experienced Attorney negotiating with insurance companies on average recover more funds for rebuilding for their clients than public adjusters and much more than a pro se client.​

One of the reasons is that public adjusters can only go half way on your claim and insurance adjusters know that. You may get more with a public adjuster than going at it alone but the insurance company will not fight to not tender the funds for the true and full value of your claim.

By going halfway I mean they cannot file a law suit in the Circuit Court when the insurance company offers pennies on a dollar and your damages are significantly high. When the pubic adjuster hits the limit that the insurance company allocated for your claim; meaning "X" is the lowest they will pay and "Y" is the maximum, all the public adjuster can to is continue to harass the insurance adjuster who continues to deny the property damage claim denying the estimate or stating that part of the damage is your fault, thus deduct a percentage from the offer or something similar in nature.

In my opinion, being an experienced attorney I can recover for you a greater insurance settlement because the Florida Statute specifically provides that if an insurance company denies your claim or a portion of it and we win in court you are entitled to attorney fees to be paid by your insurance company.

The consumer laws are such that an Attorney can make the insurance company pay if they are playing tricks, denying valid claims, or pointing fingers that the flood company should pay and the flood company says the wind coverage company should pay.................Florida Law does not put up with that and the Courts confirm it judgement after judgment.

An Attorney can keep the insurance adjuster "honest" in evaluating your claim. remember, after every major storm insurance companies are bleeding green and they will low ball your claim if your willing to take less. Below is a recent case from the Florida Supreme Court that protects Florida property owners whether your commercial, residential, condo, or mobile home owner!

In Johnson v. Omega, the Florida Supreme Court reinforced the principle that once a policyholder proves it is owed more money after filing a lawsuit, that policyholder has a vested right to attorneys’ fees and costs:

"Once an insurer has incorrectly denied benefits and the policyholder files an action in dispute of that denial, the insurer cannot then abandon its position without repercussion. To allow the insurer to backtrack after the legal action has been filed without consequence would “essentially eliminates the insurer’s burden of investigating a claim.”

Section 627.428 provides that an incorrect denial of benefits, followed by a judgment or its equivalent of payment in favor of the insured, is sufficient for an insured to recover attorney’s fees.

The Florida Supreme Court went on further stating, "The need for fee and cost reimbursement in the realm of insurance litigation is deeply rooted in public policy. Namely, the Legislature recognized that it was essential to “level the playing field” between the economically-advantaged and sophisticated insurance companies and the in the individual citizen. Most assuredly, the average policyholder has neither the finances nor the expertise to single-handedly take on an insurance carrier. Without the funds necessary to compete with an insurance carrier, often a concerned policyholder’s only means to take protective action is to hire that expertise in the form of legal counsel."

What I do know for sure is that insurance companies HATE paying attorney's fees on claims they could have reasonably settled. Many times tricks and bad faith negotiations is the norm. Public adjusters hit brick walls and some public adjusters will try to convince you to take the low ball offer so they can get paid and move on.

I don't stop there, but I file suit in Circuit Court, and most of the time by end of mediation I am walking out with a positive settlement and client with an eat-to-ear smile on their face slapping me on the back. Every case is different and I would be foolish to equal all cases together. If you reached this point in the article I suggest you call my office for an appointment for me to review your claim and property damage.

Avoid all that hassle and just start the claims process with me, Attorney Gabriel Carrera. I want to help you rebuild by obtaining a settlement to the fullest value of your damages. DON'T ACCEPT PENNIES ON A DOLLAR FOR YOUR PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM!​